Package for plastic foods



L. PETERS I July 7, 1942.

PACKAGE FOR PLASTIC FOODS Filed Feb. 2, 1959 INVENTOR LE 0. 1 5.75% BY ATTORNE? 7 Patented July 7 PACKAGE Fon rm's'rio Foons Leo Peters, Chicago, 111., assignor to Armour and Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 2, 1939, Serial No. 254,271

' Claims. I (01. 229 22) This invention relatesto a carton or package, and relates more particularly to a package for processed cheese or other plastic. foodsuch as butter.

An important object of the invention is to material developed forms such as shown in Figure 1. Aponvenient procedure is to first cut provide a cheese package which may be conveniently opened so as to permit the cheese to be sliced for using and which may be again closed so as to preserve the cheese.

Heretofore it has been customary in the manufacture of processed cheese topour the molten cheese into a package consisting of an inner tin foil wrapper and a separate supporting casing of cardboard or wood. The tin foil is objectionable because if left for an extended time it proout certain waste such as the notches ll, 12, I211,

II and Na, and then apply a sheet film H of plasticizedrubber or cellulose material over the cardboard. This film may be applied'with an adhesive or may be heated as by a hot roller so duces discoloration of the cheese, and an even more serious objection is the difiiculty of removing the tin foil'after the outer covering has been opened. The foil adheres tightly to the cheese and must usually be torn oil bit by bit to gain access to the cheese. Then after a part of the cheese has been removed from the package, the remainder cannot be preserved well because the inner foil covering is impaired.

In providing an improved cheese package I l have retainedthe function of both the outer and inner wrappers of the customary package while at the same time enablingthe package to be completely opened ready for the slicing of the .cheese by a single movement.

It is further desired that the improved package be provided with means for fastening it in closed condition which means may be readily released to again open the package.

Yet a further object is,to provide means for sealing the package against exposure to the at mosphere during marketing, which means will not prevent the package from being/easily opened by the consumer.

Still other objects and advantages will become apparent after the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows a developed view of the material used in the assembly of one embodiment of the improved carton; Figure 2 shows the material of Figure 1 fully assembled and .the carton closed; and Figure 3 shows the carton openedready forslicing r of the cheese. 1 q

The embodiment illustrated is a carton of triangular cross-section, but many of the advantages enabled by this invention may also be obtained when a package of rectangular or other that it will adhere to the cardboard. Then the outlines of the piece may be cut at the same time stamping out the holes I5 and 16 which are to become the slots for use in fastening the carton and forming the tongues l1 and 18 which are in tended to engage the slots.

As thus formed the developed material includes the ends 19 and 20 and the body 2| of rectangular form which forms the sides of the carton. It will be observed that the sheet film ll extends over the notches ll, l2, l2a, l3 and l3a. but not over'the holes l5 and I6. This film is preferably of a material known in the trade as pliofilm which is a transparent waterproof sheet material of plasticized rubber. However other materials may be used such as a waterproof cellulose sheet material, or any other waterproof fiexlble material which is impervious to the chemical action of the plastic food to be packaged.

Next the ends IB'and 20 are formed and positioned. Referring to end 19, this end is bent inwardly about line 22 so that the edge portion 23 rests face downward on the base side 24. At the same time the'end I5 is bent backward to fold along line 25. The other edge portions 25 and 21 are also bent backwardly along'lii'ies 2B and 29 respectively. Then the edge 23 is preferably.

secured to the base side 24 by passing a heated iron along its outer surface. The pliofilm. l4

. is rendered cohesive .upon the application of heat and the end is thus secured in vertical position. The end 20 is treated similarly to end l9, and so has its edge 3| secured to base side 24 and its edges 32 and 33 turned outwardly.

Preferably the body 2| is provided with lines of weakness 3! and 35 which run parallel with the edges of this portion and are inward of these edges by a space which may be about half the width of the edge portions of the ends. These lines of weakness may be formed by cutting the shape crossesection is used.

. One way of forming the improved package-is to cut from a roll of cardboard or other suitable pliofilm along these lines and closing the slit so made by the useof paraffin. Conveniently, a

small brush may be positioned behind the cutter to deposit the paraffin in the cut.

The package is preparedto be filled by folding the body 2| along lin 36 to bring its edges may then be passed along these edge portions to seal the second side 31 to the ends. With the the fiap ll in overlapping relation with the base side 24. This fiap is conveniently secured in place by pressing the tongues l1 and I8 inwardly into engaging relation with the slots l5 and ii. If desired, a'strip of tape 42 may be added along the edge of fiap ll to more thoroughly seal the package.

While the construction of the single embodiment illustrated has been given in detail it is to be understood that other methods of construction may be used. For example, though in the foregoing description the ends l9 and 20 are formed integrally with the body 2|, these ends may be formed separately and secured in the manner described. Th ends may also be secured to base side 24 by other means, as the ends are never to be removedfrom this side, but the ends should not be permanently secured to sides 31 and 3!.

When the carton as shown in Figure 1 reaches the consumer and the cheese or butter which it contains is desired to be used, it may be very conveniently opened by breaking the seal of strip 42, pulling up the tongues l1 and Hi from slots I5 and I8, and then by grasping flap ll pulling the sides 31 and 19 free from the ends to expose the package contents on all sides except base side 24. Either of the ends I! or 20 may be temporarily bent slightly outward and the cheese or butter sliced oil? as desired. Where the carton is of triangular cross section, the cheese, for example, may be sliced oil into pieces of triangular shape which is a shape generally des red for serving. 1

From Figure 3 it will be apparent that when the cover comprising sides 31 and 38 is turned back to open the package, the moistureproof film was severed along lines 34 and 35, and that the Portion of film between these lines and the edges of the cover has remained with the film on the end edges, taking with it even some of the sur-'- face of the cover to whiahit was formerly secured. v

After a portion of the contents of the package has been used, the cover may again be replaced and fiap ll secured by pressing down the tongues l1 and I8 into slots l5 and IS. The carton will thus be again effectively closed against exposure of the contents to air, but will not be sealed as was previously.

As may be seen more clearly from Figure l of the drawing the moistureproof film ll extends over the openings II, II, Ila, l8 and Ila. This practice is preferable because the uncut film serves to seal the package more eifectively. As shown in Figure 3 the portion 43 of the film extends overthe edge of the cheese.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood able at said lines of weakness when said side material is unfolded to open said package.

2.- In a package for plastic foods a Pair of endsin parallel spaced relation and having outwardly turned edges, a cover having its edge portions in overlapping relation with said edges, said cover and ends having on their one side a film of waterproof material, the edges of the mm on said cover being in cohering relation with the film on the edges of said ends, and lines of weakness in the film on said cover inwardly of said edges for severing said film when said cover is opened.

3. A package for plastic foods comprising a base side, a pair of ends in spaced relation and having outwardly projecting edge portions, each of said ends having one of its edge portions secured to one side, a cover connected by line of fold to said side and being foldable about said ends to form the other sides of said package, an inner moisture-proof sheet material extending over said base side and said outwardly projecting edge portions of said ends and secured to said cover, means for securing said cover, sheet material and outwardly projecting edge portions of said ends together in sealing relation, said cover being tumable about said line of fold to break the seal and open the package to expose the contents thereof.

4. A package for plastic foods comprising a supporting sheet material having on its inner surface a film which is cohesive upon application of heat, said material including a base side, a pair of ends having outwardly turned edges, and acover folded about said ends and having its edge portion in cohering relation with the edges of said ends, said film breaking adjacent said edge and cover portions when said cover is un- ,folded to open said package.

5. In a package for plastic foods, a pair of ends in parallel spaced relation and having outwardly turned edges, 9. cover having its edge therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art. i

portions in overlapping relation with said edges, said cover and ends having on their one side a film of moisture-proof material, the edges of the film on said cover being in cohering relation with the film on the edges of said ends, said film breaking along its side edges when said cover is opened.

6. A carton for plastic foods comprising a cardboard base side, a pair of ends secured in spaced relation to said base side and having edges in substantially triangular configuration, a cardboard cover connected to one side only of said base by line of fold and containing a central line of fold so as to be foldable about said ends to form the two other sides of said package, and

an inner moisture-proof film extending over said base side and cover and secured to said cover, said cover being tumable about said lines of fold to withdraw said film and cover from contact with two sides of the contents of said package.

7. A package for plastic foods comprising a base side, a pair of ends in spaced relation and a said package.

having outwardly extending edgeportions. each of said ends being connected by a line 01 fold to means within said package for sealing the outwardly extending edge portions of said ends to the adjacent portionsoi said cover, said cover bet in: unioldabie to break the seal with said edge portions of said sides and expose the contents of r a. m a carton of the, class set mm, as side; a pair 0! ends oi substantially triangular shape secured in spaced relation to said side, and a stiff cover connected by line 0! fold to said side and being foldable about said ends to form the other sides of the triangular carton, a film of moisture-proof material secured to said cover, and means secured to said cover and engaging said base to releasably lock said cover upon said base. said last-mentioned means being adapted to be grasped to lift said cover and thereby to re- LEO rams.

base side. 

